My Tribal Journeys…

Science and Technology Resource Centre

Gondwana University Gadchiroli
Conceived and funded by Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission (RGSTC), Mumbai, Government of
Maharashtra as an autonomous institute under Gondwana University, Gadchiroli (GUG) since 2013. STRC is positioned as
a center of excellence for sustainable value creation, entrusted with generating livelihood opportunities by deploying
appropriate science and technology, particularly for the underserved tribal communities of Gadchiroli region.

Aquaculture and Bamboo Craft and NTFP, Med. Plants Applicable R&D Communication
Livelihoods Livelihoods and Other and Academic Program for Development
Livelihoods Development through ICT
 STRC’s Medicinal Plant Mandate

Scientific Resource Mapping
and Documentation of
important medicinal plants in
the region (Plant checklist)
Engaging with the local Creating unique platforms for
Traditional Healers to document promotion of Traditional
and consolidate traditional Healers and their Healing
healing practices with support of Practices (Vaidya Chikitsalay)
scientific evidence based
research (Vaidu Directory) and
facilitating Recognition of
Traditional Healers
 Our Approach: Scientific Research and Documentation towards Preservation of Traditional
2017
“Vanaushadhi
Abhiyan”
• Community awareness through
Mobile Demonstration Unit
• Live demonstration of plants
• Outreach- 100 Villages
• FGDs Conducted- 34 Villages
• Acknowledging importance of
Ethno-botany in the region
Knowledge
2019
Documenting Indigenous Medicinal Knowledge of
Tribal and Forest Fringe Communities in
Gadchiroli.
(Project Funded by National Academy of Sciences India)
Key Outcomes:
• Vaidu Samvads addressing 300+ traditional
Healers (THs) in 6 Tehsils of Gadchiroli
District
• Recognized and interviewed 145 Traditional
Key Outcomes:
healers and individual profiling
• Propagation of 02 commercially important species,
• Seed germination protocols and cultivation SOPs.
• Phytochemical and nutritional composition
analysis
Plant Propagation/Scientific Cultivation
Practices for Medicinal Plants
(Project Funded by Dept. of Science & Technology, GoI)
2018

2019
Developed Audio-Visual
Documentaries on
sustainable harvesting of
selected medicinal plants
Created a checklist of 2021
207 medicinal plant
species of high
commercial value in the
first phase through
exploratory surveys
across 5 tehsils
documenting species
occurrence and
associated traditional
Initiating Vaidya Chikitsalay-
a one of its kind platform at
University level for THs to
promote and popularize
traditional healing practices;
a possible replicable model
2022
Development of the first draft of Vaidu
Directory – A unique compilation of the
local traditional healers and their plant
based healing practices. Facilitating
formal registration of traditional
healers under QCI
2022

Establishment of a Centre
of Excellence for extensive
scientific evidence based
research on med plants in
Gadchiroli region
Future Course of Action
Extensive research leading to a Replicating the model of Vaidya
comprehensive Vaidu Directory Chikitsalay at multiple levels
documenting over 100 THs.
Continued facilitation of their
recognition and subsequent
support
 Thank You

Science and Technology Resource Centre

Gondwana University Gadchiroli